ROTC vs USAFA to be Physician

U

usafacan2023

FFS NWP ‘23 | USAFA ‘28
Joined
Aug 25, 2022
Messages
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I have received an Army ROTC 4 year Scholarship as well as a Falcon Foundation Scholarship. I would like to go to med school and eventually become a Family Medicine Physician. Obviously this can be done with both routes and I’ve done a lot of research on both. Just wondering if anyone could weigh in with something I might not have seen or thought of yet?
 
USAFA does send a few to med school, but not many. Have you considered USUHS?
 
Understand that you can do something else prior to medical school. It’s a great goal to have, but there are many paths to medical school.
I “know” an officer who went ROTC, then became a quartermaster officer and parachute rigger; then went to flight school; then got accepted to medical school. There is a quite famous doctor who was a SEAL first, then went to medical school, then became an astronaut.
My cousin was a civilian EMT, then went to Navy flight school, then went to medical school.
I know many, many other doctors who took “alternate” paths to medical school.
Remember, you can do something before becoming a doctor. But once you’re a doctor that’s usually your path.
Good luck in finding your path.
 
You may want to consider an alternate idea. BLUF -- consider going to college as a plain old civilian as affordably as possible and dedicating yourself 100% to med school preparation. Then, assuming you still want to pursue medicine, apply to USUHS and/or for a Health Professions Scholarship.

Here's why: Both USAFA and AROTC are NOT designed for future physicians. They are designed to produce line officers. Yes, it is possible to become a doctor following either path, but IMO that's doing it the hard way. There is no guarantee that either path will permit you to go to medical school before serving out your commitment (although with AROTC if you get in to med school then it will likely be granted). Second, while other med school applicants are going to be dedicating themselves to preparing for med school, you'll be preparing to be an Air Force or Army officer, which takes time and effort. That will inevitably take away from your med school preparation. Finally, you would still owe time on the ROTC scholarship on top of whatever you would owe for medical school, which means you are basically committing to a 20-year career because at the point when you would have repaid all your obligations, it would make little sense to get out.

LTC Kirkland (who used to post here) covers the ground here from an ROTC angle -- https://rotcconsulting.com/medical-school-and-rotc-doctor/
 
Both of my roommates become medical doctors. Each took different routes. One went directly from USAFA to medical school. He was focused and had this goal 'on day one' when we entered the Academy. The other was a Physics major, like me. He became a B-52 pilot, then earned his PhD in Physics. Unfortunately, he and I did not have the opportunity to teach together at USAFA as I left the faculty prior to his arrival. Later, when he left the Air Force, he went to medical school. He is now a practicing physician in Salinas, CA. I'm sure you can do the same, if you have the desire, the drive and the patience to follow the path. Best of luck!
 
Academician said:
Both of my roommates become medical doctors. Each took different routes. One went directly from USAFA to medical school. He was focused and had this goal 'on day one' when we entered the Academy. The other was a Physics major, like me. He became a B-52 pilot, then earned his PhD in Physics. Unfortunately, he and I did not have the opportunity to teach together at USAFA as I left the faculty prior to his arrival. Later, when he left the Air Force, he went to medical school. He is now a practicing physician in Salinas, CA. I'm sure you can do the same, if you have the desire, the drive and the patience to follow the path. Best of luck!
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That's insane, I have spent a total of 7 years in grad school (medical related) but couldn't imagine getting a STEM PhD then doing med school/residency.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
Define “efficient”.
For some the winding road to the goal may be the best one.
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Efficient means having the highest probability of achieving your goal with the least time required. It's been said many times over on this forum that going to medical school, or any other medical profession for that matter, is one of the least likely to be achieved through a Service Academy or ROTC.
 
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